The Material Review

Issue 113: The Meaning of 'Made in USA', 5 Star Reviews, Ralph's Vintage Man of Mystery, Guitar of the Future, In Defense of Cheating at Golf, Spotlight on: Oxford Pennant and Thoughts on Oasis.

Michael Williams

and

Taylor Stacey

Aug 06, 2025

Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.

What Does ‘Made in USA’ Mean, Anyway?

“The rules governing American-made clothing are knotty. Here’s what it takes to earn the vaunted label.” [GQ]

Everybody wants your 5-star rating. Even your cardiologist.

“As the world fills up with surveys (and survey fatigue), how much do our reviews matter?” [The Washington Post]

Ralph Lauren’s Vintage Man of Mystery

“At 71, Doug Bihlmaier has become a style hero to fashion-savvy social media creators.” [NYT]

Is this the guitar of the future?

“And other innovative designs for making music” [FT]

In Defense of Cheating at Golf

“Bending the rules for beginners could make game play fairer, and faster.” [Bloomberg]

A shortlist of things we’ve got our eye on.

yahae alpaca cable pattern socks in natural

Finisterre Walker Hybrid Short

Oxford Pennant

Vintage Niagara Falls Framed Pennant

Billy Strings x OP - It's Not Hard to Get Lost Banner

John Prine x OP - We're The Big Door Prize Camp Flag

Dispatch from Oasis Live ‘25

There’s obviously been nonstop chatter around the Oasis reunion tour but after seeing them this past weekend across the pond at Wembley I feel inclined to throw my bucket hat in the ring to say:

Get there.

Yes, resale prices are brutal. Sell the watch collecting dust in your drawer. Offload that third Barbour that’s been a bit too snug for several years. You won’t regret it. Even if you’re not a die-hard fan, you know the songs. And while there have been plenty of reunion tours from bands of the past—some great in their own right—this felt different. This wasn’t just nostalgia but a rare convergence. A band with gas still in the tank, anthems that resonate, and a rockstar presence that feels nearly impossible to replicate in today’s era.

I’m as cynical as it gets when it comes to concerts as performance art for social media. A place to be seen, to show others you were there. But this didn’t feel like that. There was a collective energy, a catharsis shared between lifelong fans who’d endured two decades of “shite” around reunion rumors, and a new generation seeing Noel and Liam Gallagher on the same stage for the first time. The setlist? It’s the same every night. No surprises. No deep cuts. Exactly how a reunion tour of this magnitude should be.

In a world where tech keeps fracturing our attention and funneling our interests, experiences like this are the last true luxury. Go.

-TS

P.S. Liam’s archival Ten C jacket has me acting crazy on Ebay.

Classifieds

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🛒 High Season Market

Aug 15-17th. 10am - 4pm. Ocean View Grange Hall - Martinsville - Tenants Harbor, Maine

High Season Market is a summer gathering of small brands, artists, creators and collectors from near and far. Its an annual celebration of craft and community at the peak of Maine’s summer season. Now in its fifth year, the market brings together thoughtful goods, fresh food and good company in the small coastal community on the St. George Peninsula.